Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Well let's see. We've done quite a few things since we were last here. We went on a cruise this summer, the same one we went on last sumer, but it was paid for this time by Daran's mom and Ned. We had a room with a window which was really nice.

We enjoyed it and had a good time.

During the summer, Rachel and I did the usual, sleep late, take swiming lessons, go shopping, etc. We love summer.

But all good things must come to an end.

Rachel started first grade in August. Her teacher this year is Ms. Elizondo, and Rachel seems to enjoy it.

I am in my 13th year of teaching French at DVHS and this year I was moved into a beautiful room in the new wing. I have windows that face the front, and I even have a bathroom in my room. It is awesome! Karina is still there, and I love her. She is right across the hall from me and it is great to have here there to talk to and to share ideas with.

For Halloween this year, Rachel was a bumble bee.

We went trick or treating around the neighborhood with all of the neighborhood kids.

Thanksgiving this year I had everyone at my house. Mom, Dad, Doug, Eleanor, Elizabeth and Benjamin. Everything was really good.

The next day, Mary took me and Rachel to Breakfast with Santa at the Lost Pines Resort in Bastrop. They had a breakfast buffet and different activities for the kids; cookie decorating, ornament painting, face painting, and a petting zoo.

Rachel and Daran had tae kwon do grading on December 11th. Rachel has a green stripe now and Daran is a blue belt.

Friday, June 3, 2011

So happy to be done with school and on summer vacation. We are going on a cruise again and Rachel is going to take swimming lessons and she also wants to take gymnastics. My favorite part is not waking up at 5:30 in the morning, and not having to hear how her shoes don't feel right every morning.

The last week of kindergarten they had all sorts of fun activities planned. They played with board games one day, brought books and flashlights one day, got to play outside one day, and the last day of school they got to wear pajamas, eat pizza, and watch movies. She is so excited to be a first grader next year. She is doing great at reading and is doing really well in school.

For Rachel's birthday, we went to Disney Princesses on Ice. We had really good seats, we were in the fourth row, and she had lots of fun. That snow cone in the pic was 15.00. Stuff was ridiculously overpriced, but we still managed to have a good time.

We just had a family party this year with pizza and cake. Rachel picked out a Hannah Montana cake this year. We had all the grandparents and Doug, Eleanor, Elizabeth and Benjamin. Rachel had lots of fun and got some good presents.

We went to church in the morning and then went over to Nana and Papa's house for lunch. After lunch Rachel, Elizabeth and Benjamin got to hunt Easter eggs. I'm glad that they can spend some time together.

For Easter this year I was off on Friday, and me, Rachel, and Nana went to the outlet mall. Rachel wanted some tie shoes really really bad. I had the stomach virus that Rachel gave to me from the week before, so I still didn't really feel that great. But we found some tie shoes and she was very excited. Although she was acting kind of strange the whole time and crying for no reason at all, which she does from time to time. Then we came home and dyed eggs. Nana was here and Nanny came over, and I think it was too much for Rachel cause she was crying for no reason. She didn't like one of the kits I got to dye eggs with because the colors were mixing. We finally got it all done and she seemed to be happy.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Well Spring Break was a little rough this year because Rachel got her tonsils out on March 10. She kept getting strep throat, and we though it would be best to just go ahead and do it. I knew it was going to be rough, but I wasn't sure how rough. Well, it was rough! After the surgery, they came and got Daran and I and we went back to recovery and she was crying and saying her throat hurt. The nurse gave her some medicine that calmed her down, and we were home by 11:00 am or so. Then about 4:00 pm I think her medicine wore off, and she was having a hard time. We finally got her calmed down and she did ok. She mostly ate vanilla ice cream.

Friday Nana came over and we had lunch and Rachel seemed to be ok. Then later that afternoon, Nana, Papa, and Elizabeth came over to visit because Elizabeth was spending the night with Nana and Papa. So it helped Rachel to have visitors.

Saturday was a little rough. I think she was tired and of course in pain. She still mostly ate ice cream and a little bit of chicken noodle soup.

Sunday we went to Target.

Monday we went to see the Justin Bieber movie. I think she enjoyed it. It was a nice diversion. Then we went to the outlet mall to buy her a princess shirt because we are going to see Disney Princess on Ice in May.

Tuesday she spent a little time at Nana's and I cleaned out her closet.

Wednesday we did a little shopping with Nana at Kohl's and then we went to get frozen yogurt.

Thursday Lori came over with her new baby Henry. He is 6 weeks old and adorable. Rachel was so cute with him and wanted to hold him all the time and she even fed him his bottle. We went out to eat at Applebee's. Lori spent most of the day here.

Friday Rachel went over to her Nana's for a little bit and I cam back and cleaned house.

Saturday we went to a car show at Freddy's and then went to the grocery store.

I think her pain level has gotten better. I just give her a little bit of pain medicine at night now. She hasn't complained too much about her throat hurting.

I'm glad we went ahead and did it and I hope it helps her not get sick all the time. I'm also glad that the worst is over.

Snow again! They had been saying it was going to snow for a few days, but I wasn't holding my breath. Well sure enough, Friday morning, February 4th, there was snow on the ground, so we didn't have school! It was so exciting! Rachel and I played out in it for just a little while, then she said she was cold so we went in. It had mostly melted by the afternoon.

Monday, January 3, 2011

We have had such a great Christmas Break! I do not want to go back to school tomorrow. I'm sure it's going to be a hard morning. Although this morning, our last day of break, Rachel has been awake since about 5:00 for some reason, and I finally gave up on her going back to sleep about 6:00, so I am sitting here drinking coffee and trying to wake up.

So a little recap of what we have done.

We went to see the Zilker Park christmas tree for the first time as a family. The weather was great, it wasn't cold at all, and we had a really good time. I'm glad we went.

On Christmas Eve, we went over to Mary and Ned's house and had lunch and opened presents. Rachel got the American Girl doll Lainey and an armoire for all the doll's clothes and a dog for the doll. It's so cute and she loves it. I got a gift card to kohl's and a nice new robe. Then we came home to get ready for Santa!

On Christmas morning, we got up around 7:00 to see if Santa came and he did! He left Rachel a baby doll, a barbie, a Hannah Montana CD, some books, a pretend flower, and a nightgown. She was very excited. Then my parents came over for breakfast and we opened a few of her presents. Then my parents went home for a little bit and then came back for lunch. Doug, Eleanor, Elizabeth and Benjamin also came over for lunch. So we had turkey and all the trimmings and then opened presents. Rachel got a bitty baby, some legos, some doll clothes and a blanket for her baby, a remote control mustang, and some clothes.

Then we all played Tabu and had a great time. Everyone left around 5:30. I'm so glad that I got to have Christmas over here.

Then the next week I was off, we slept late, at least til 8:30 every day, ran errands, played with toys, practiced reading, washed clothes in my new washer and dryer, went to see Tangled, which was very cute and although half way through the movie Rachel said she was ready to go home, she did end up sitting down and watching the whole movie.

On New Year's Eve we went to eat at Olive Garden and then just came home and hung out. On New Year's Day, we took down all the Christmas decorations, put them up, and cleaned house. I also made a ham and black eyed peas for dinner.

So we have had a nice relaxing break and I am not at all ready to get back in the swing of things, but I guess I have to.